Interior windows: what are they, pros and cons, role in the interior

From the outside it is interesting to observe trends in housing construction. Thus, throughout the last century, it was almost impossible to find an apartment without a window between the bathroom and the kitchen or toilet. Even in the living quarters of the old pre-revolutionary buildings, they were there. Everything, as if by magic, changed 30-40 years ago.

They disappeared in the houses of the new layout, and during renovation work in the “Khrushchev”, “Stalin” and “panelka” buildings they were furiously sealed up. And then they appeared again. But no longer modest and nondescript, between the kitchen and bathroom, but stylish, tastefully decorated windows in the interior partition of the bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc.

Let's figure out where and for what purpose it is better to install interior windows, the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution, and how to correctly fit a new structural element of the building into the interior of the room.

What kind of new product is this?

It’s difficult to call interior windows a novelty. Probably every Russian has encountered them. If not in the apartment of your parents or grandparents, then in the school cafeteria there is always a window for distribution and there is a classic example of an interior window.

It turns out that the “new product” has a long history, with different explanations for its appearance. The most popular version is to reduce the consequences of household gas explosions. Having knocked out the weaker frame, the blast wave extinguishes the energy in the bathroom, leaving the windows and walls intact. The most amusing one is for ventilation, despite the fact that the windows did not open (solid). Rather, those who claim that these are skylights are right. After all, they appeared long before gas and electricity, and helped to use the bathroom and toilet during daylight hours without lighting a kerosene lamp or candles.

“New” interior windows differ from their ancestors in functions, materials, and location.

Functions

Interior windows in the interior of an apartment solve functional and decorative problems:

increase the luminous flux into a darkened room;
improve communication connections between adjacent rooms;
allow redevelopment without loss of performance characteristics;
improve air exchange inside the apartment;
visually expand the area of the room;
change the look and style of the interior, introducing new colors into it.

6.Special solutions for country houses

Country houses often require large spaces, so special interior designs are used here.

In a living room with a high ceiling, there is often a problem of decorating the walls in such a way as not to destroy the balance in the interior. In this example, the architect used a large ceiling space to create a window to allow natural light to flow between rooms.

The second tier is separated from the spacious living room space by a glass wall. Thanks to the glass, minimal sound insulation is provided in the room, but light access is maintained. In addition, we have an original design solution that creates a modern, non-standard atmosphere.

Materials

Indoor windows can be made of wood, plastic and aluminum.

Tree

The choice in favor of wooden frames is determined by the performance characteristics of the material. You can: easily paint or repaint it in any color, make a frame of any shape (arch, circle, rectangle or square), if an element of the window unit is damaged, replace it. Another huge advantage is that you can install shutters. Wood as a building material has its strengths. True, there are also disadvantages.

durability;
high strength;
good heat and sound insulation properties.

high price, even when the owner makes the frame himself and installs it;
highly flammable;
requires constant care: wash, treat with impregnations, repaint after a certain time.

Plastic

For interior windows, take a 3-chamber PVC profile without steel reinforcement with an installation depth of 58-60 cm. This is enough to confidently hold a double-glazed window with one or two glasses. Polyvinyl chloride has its pros and cons.

low heat transfer coefficient;
Sound waves are well damped;
does not require special care - can be washed with warm water and detergents;
affordable price.

if one of the elements of the window unit is damaged, the window will have to be completely replaced - the plastic cannot be repaired;
attracts static electricity from a running TV, PC monitors or laptop. It, in turn, attracts dust, volatile fats, and soot to the surface of the window;
unsafe in terms of fire - at high temperatures it smokes heavily and emits toxic substances.

Aluminum

Aluminum windows with a cold profile in terms of technical and operational indicators are an ideal option for installation inside an apartment. But there is a limiting factor.

the lowest price among all frame manufacturing options;
the profile is thinner, which allows for a larger light opening;
light weight, which is important when installing interior partitions made of plasterboard;
high strength;
maintainability;
not afraid of UV rays and moisture;
easy care.

inaccessible - not all regions of Russia have companies working with this material.

Glass

Glass can be very different:

stained glass;
corrugated;
matte;
in the form of glass blocks illuminated from the inside.

There are design solutions without glazing at all - shutters are used.

Differences from regular windows

Interior windows have many differences from ordinary ones. Let's summarize them in Table 1.

Table 1. Differences between interior and regular windows.

Differences	Window type
Differences	Interior	Regular
Installation location	Inside an apartment or house	Along the perimeter of the housing
Number of cameras in profile	In plastic – 3, aluminum – one	In plastic at least -5, in aluminum 2-3
Type of glass unit	With one or two glasses	With 2-5 glasses
Type of glass	Plain, stained glass, matte, corrugated, etc.	Normal, emissive, impact resistant
Purpose	Decoration comes first, functionality comes second	Main function: protecting the room from cold, heat, noise, rain, snow. Decorative as an application.

Advantages and disadvantages

Interior windows in the wall have strengths and weaknesses.

The interior design of the apartment is changing. True, not always for the better;
communication between family members improves. This is especially important if there are children - there is no need to open the door when monitoring their activities (this is always distracting);
the room is visually enlarged due to additional lighting and a partially transparent wall;
lighting improves;
the window sill can be used as an additional table or bar counter when installed between the kitchen and the dining room (living room);
allow you to highlight functional areas;
the possibility of additional ventilation appears - there is no need to install ventilation grilles at the bottom of the interior doors.

the level of sound insulation decreases - the window allows all types of noise to pass through well;
psychological discomfort appears - it always seems that you are being spied on, especially if the window is installed in the bedroom;
the intimacy of the situation disappears;
there is no opportunity to retire for meditation, relaxation or reflection - silhouettes flashing in the window opening distract at the subconscious level;
When installing in load-bearing walls, a design is required.

Which rooms will it fit perfectly between?

An interior window in a country house or apartment can be placed in any room. In order for it to fit harmoniously into the interior and at the same time perform certain functions, several nuances must be taken into account.

1. Window openings are made in blind rooms that do not have access to the street. Such premises appear after redevelopment of an apartment from a one-room to a two-room apartment or a two-room apartment to a three-room apartment. Thanks to a small window, daylight will flow into the room - you won't have to keep the lights on all the time. In addition, the luminous flux will make the bedroom or office (they are usually equipped in nooks) more spacious and cheerful (psychologists say that a closed space without windows causes sadness and despondency). For this reason, many owners make the entire partition from glass blocks instead of windows or install a sliding system with tinted windows.

2. Install internal windows and on the walls of the corridor (hallway). Two problems are solved here:

the hallway is illuminated with daylight;
the size of the room visually increases.

In this situation, you need to consider how the room from which the light comes will look with the window. Experience shows that this is where there are many mistakes. For example, a window fits perfectly into the design of the hallway, but in the living room, which is an adjacent room, it is actively discordant with the furniture. We need a golden mean.

3. When lighting dark rooms, it is recommended to make openings opposite ordinary windows - this way more light will get into the darkened areas. There are particularities when installing interior windows in rooms with different purposes.

In the kitchen

A window in the kitchen can be decorative if it opens into the living room or functional if the adjacent room is the dining room.

Decorative window in the kitchen.

A decorative window is, firstly, beautiful, secondly, a small kitchen becomes visually more spacious, and thirdly, it opens up the interior, linking the design of adjacent rooms into a single whole (they complement each other), which gives an amazing effect. In addition, it becomes possible for light flows to flow freely from room to room, making them look lighter and airier.

In most cases, a functional window is designed in the form of a bar counter. This makes it not only convenient to pass dishes to the dining area (no need to make circles along the corridor), but you can also set the table on the windowsill, especially in cases where the whole family cannot get together for breakfast or dinner.

In Russia it has become popular to combine the dining room with the living room. In this case, it becomes possible to unload a small kitchen from excess furniture, ensure a good level of communication between adjacent rooms (establish contact with guests or family members in the dining area).

Bathroom

Interior windows in the bathroom are a classic of the genre. They are installed mainly in apartments, because... In private construction, it is recommended to leave the window niche in the outer wall. There is no single point of view regarding the location. Most experts and designers consider it unacceptable to install a window between the kitchen and the bathroom - only in a blank wall with another adjacent room.

Installing a window allows you to:

provide natural light to the bathroom - you can wash your hands without turning on the light;
change the design using an opening;
eliminate the discomfort of a closed room.

Cabinet

The problem with an office is that in an apartment it is sometimes arranged in utility rooms or a special area is fenced off with plasterboard partitions. Limited space and lack of natural light greatly reduce mental performance. Therefore, the installation of internal window structures is more relevant here than anywhere else.

Bedroom

An interior window into the bedroom performs a decorative function: it makes the room more spacious and “refreshes” the interior. But this approach to design has many opponents. They believe that the bedroom is a private room in which everything that happens there should remain. Therefore, we need a solid wall that hides the intimate rooms from prying eyes and prying ears. Another option is to install a permanent window made of several rows of colored glass blocks.

The editors of the site do not take responsibility for recommending anything in the current situation. Everyone must decide for themselves what to do. To help, we provide a photo gallery of successful design solutions.

Helpful advice

If you want to emphasize your style, select paintings for the false window to match your interior. For example, in the Provence style a landscape with a lavender field is appropriate, and in a marine style a beautiful view of the ocean is appropriate. Paintings with cars and skyscrapers look good in the industrial style. The theme of nature will fit into any interior.

Industrial style false window

Faux Rustic Window

A large mirror in a massive frame can also be used in the interior as a false window

Frames for false decor can be made from old windows, doors or wooden boards. In addition, moldings will cope with this task perfectly.

False window from an old frame with glass

Elegant false window

Fake mirror windows with solid wood frames.

Interior windows in the interior

When installing interior windows, you should not blindly follow the emerging trend. After all, an incorrectly chosen profile design, window opening size, or type of glazing can ruin the interior. Following some tips from designers will help you avoid many troubles.

Any type of window is suitable for a modern style.
Classic is incompatible with PVC and aluminum - only wood.
High-tech style is friends with metal.
Loft interior windows are wood, aluminum, frosted glass or stained glass.
The country era is perfectly emphasized by wood, opaque glass (frosted or stained glass) and shutters (they have a special chic). Shutters can also be used in this capacity.

There are a few more rules that also need to be followed:

take into account the ratio of the window opening and wall area;
select windows to match the style of the apartment, and not vice versa;
It is not necessary to install windows in the classical sense. Openings sealed with glass blocks or shutters without glass look great;
When playing with shapes and sizes, you should not pay attention to heat and sound insulation. Decorative properties only;
For ceiling-to-floor windows, dividing elements can be used as decoration. Sprats are perfect for these purposes;
window openings at the top of the wall with high ceilings visually change proportions;
on a load-bearing wall (destroying is not recommended), you can use a false window with a mirror or a large photo of a landscape.

Window decoration

Unlike a regular window, there are no problems with how to design an interior window. There are all kinds of techniques you can use here:

play with the size and shape of the window;
use shutters or shutters when decorating the opening. It doesn’t matter whether they open or not;
select the frame material, color and texture to match the interior style;
use all available types of glass: regular, frosted, stained glass, corrugated.

Instead of a conclusion. An interior window is fashionable and stylish. But everything must be done in moderation and every detail must be thought through during installation. After all, in the end the result may be: “we wanted the best, but it turned out as always.”

Is it worth installing

The need for an internal window is not always obvious. The exceptions are passage corridors and bathrooms.

You simply can’t do without it here:

Adding natural light transforms a room. You also need to take into account that sunlight kills pathogens, it is the enemy of mold and despondency.
Aerating the space, visually increasing the volume and size of the walls are also important aspects that increase comfort.
Separating relaxation areas and work space will not make a large studio or room smaller if you arrange partitions with built-in window frames. Curtains will allow you to temporarily isolate yourself and enjoy the space the rest of the time.

The problems of dividing space are especially problematic in families with older children. They are not old enough to live on their own, but they are no longer comfortable living in the same room with their parents. The construction of a blind partition is not as practical as zoning with a partition with a window.

interior window photo

Making an opening in a wall is not particularly difficult, but destroying a load-bearing wall is fraught with consequences. Before picking up tools, it is worth consulting with an experienced civil engineer.